Havengul Skaab MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Zombie Horror
Released	2012-05-04
Set symbol
Set name	Avacyn Restored
Set code	AVR
Power	4
Toughness	5
Number	60
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Vincent Proce

Key Takeaways

Havengul Skaab provides card advantage by returning creature cards from your graveyard to your hand.
The card’s utility for instant-speed plays can surprise opponents and shift the game’s momentum.
Its high mana cost and specific requirements can be a drawback, making deck inclusion selective.

Text of card

Whenever Havengul Skaab attacks, return another creature you control to its owner's hand.

An abomination so violent that the other fiends tremble at the sight of it.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Havengul Skaab’s prowess not only stems from its imposing presence on the battlefield but also its efficiency in gathering resources from beyond. When casting this card, you sharpen your tactical edge by bringing back another creature card from your graveyard to your hand, which in turn bolsters your hand and equips you with more options for the ongoing duel.

Resource Acceleration: Resourcefulness in mana usage is key to outpacing your adversaries, and Havengul Skaab’s enter-the-battlefield ability aligns with this strategy. By retrieving a creature card, you effectively maximize the use of your resources, catalyzing a swift and dynamic gameplay that can leave your opponent scrambling to keep up.

Instant Speed: In the realm of MTG, the aptitude to react with celerity can turn the tides of the game, and while Havengul Skaab operates at sorcery speed, the ability it grants can set the stage for instant-speed plays. By returning an instant-speed creature to your hand, you can deliver unexpected plays, catching your opponent off guard and securing an advantageous position on the battlefield.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Havengul Skaab demands a nonland card discard to unleash its potential, presenting a hurdle for players struggling to maintain a solid hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Deploying this creature requires both blue and black mana, inherently restricting its inclusion to decks that can accommodate such specific needs.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a summoning cost that’s considered steep for its stats, some players might bypass Havengul Skaab for alternatives providing more immediate board impact.

Reasons to Include Havengul Skaab in Your Collection

Versatility: Havengul Skaab can adapt to various playstyles, offering utility both in offensive and defensive positions. This creature card can seamlessly slot into decks that benefit from self-milling or reanimation strategies, thanks to its ability to utilise the graveyard as a resource.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combinations with other cards that capitalize on the graveyard. With the ability to repeatedly return creature cards to your hand, it enables recurring value and synergies that can lead to powerful plays and turn the tide of the match in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to recurrently recover creatures, Havengul Skaab stands as a resilient asset in a meta that is flush with removal spells. It ensures that key creatures remain accessible and can be a thorn in the side of opponents playing mill strategies, turning their tactics to your advantage.

How to beat

Havengul Skaab is an intriguing creature in the world of Magic: The Gathering that can disrupt strategies by returning opponent’s creatures to their hand when it attacks. To effectively counter this blue zombie horror on the battlefield, it is essential to rely on removal spells that can target creatures regardless of their size. Cards like Murder, which can destroy a creature for three mana at instant speed, can efficiently remove Havengul Skaab without allowing its ability to trigger.

Another approach is to use counterspells such as Negate or Essence Scatter to prevent Havengul Skaab from ever hitting the field. If it’s already in play, employing exile effects like Path to Exile can remove it permanently, bypassing the graveyard and any potential recurrence. Alternatively, taking control of the game pace with cards such as Ghostly Prison or Propaganda can discourage the Skaab’s attack. Lastly, strategic play, including not overextending your battlefield with creatures unnecessarily, can minimize the impact of Havengul Skaab’s bouncing effect.

Taking these measures into consideration when facing this formidable adversary can help maintain a strong defensive stance and ultimately lead to victory against decks that include Havengul Skaab. It’s all about calculated moves and having the right answers at the right time.

Cards like Havengul Skaab

Havengul Skaab is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering that offers certain strategic benefits within the game. As a zombie horror, it’s part of a family of cards beloved for their recurrence and synergy. Much like the card Stitched Drake, which also requires a creature card in your graveyard to be cast, Havengul Skaab necessitates that stipulation. However, the Skaab brings its own unique twist to the battlefield with its ability to also untap another target creature you control.

Armored Skaab is another card that shares a similar role, milling cards into your graveyard, but it doesn’t directly impact the board the way Havengul Skaab can by readying another of your creatures. Additionally, Advanced Stitchwing can be compared, as it returns to the battlefield from your graveyard, reinforcing the zombie theme of recursion. The Advanced Stitchwing requires a higher mana investment and also to discard two cards, whereas Havengul Skaab’s imposed cost is only the exiling of another creature card from your graveyard.

Within the cluttered space of zombie-themed cards, Havengul Skaab distinguishes itself by offering both a decently-sized body alongside a utility that can be harnessed to orchestrate complex plays, potentially providing MTG players more value in the long game.

Cards similar to Havengul Skaab by color, type and mana cost

Sun Quan, Lord of Wu - MTG Card versions

Arcanis the Omnipotent - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Havengul Skaab MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Havengul Skaab and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Havengul Skaab has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Havengul Skaab card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.